Mosul offensive a ’decisive moment’ in anti-IS campaign: US defense secretary

October 17, 2016 - 14:10

US Secretary of Defense Ash Carter said on Sunday that operations to retake the Iraqi city of Mosul from the Islamic State group were key to defeating the jihadist group.

WASHINGTON — US Secretary of Defense Ash Carter said on Sunday that operations to retake the Iraqi city of Mosul from the Islamic State group were key to defeating the jihadist group.

"This is a decisive moment in the campaign to deliver ISIL a lasting defeat," Carter said in a statement.

"We are confident our Iraqi partners will prevail against our common enemy and free Mosul and the rest of Iraq from ISIL’s hatred and brutality." Carter promised continued support for Iraq.

"The United States and the rest of the international coalition stand ready to support Iraqi Security Forces, Peshmerga fighters and the people of Iraq in the difficult fight ahead," he stressed.

The northern city was where IS supremo Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi publicly proclaimed a "caliphate" straddling Iraq and Syria in June 2014.

With the support of Iran and a US-led coalition, Iraqi forces have since regained much of the ground lost to IS and Mosul is the extremist group’s last major stronghold in Iraq.

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has said only government forces will enter Mosul, a Sunni-majority city that IS seized with relative ease partly amid local resentment towards the Shiite-dominated security forces.

Shiite militia groups have been accused of serious abuses against Sunni civilians in the course of operations to reconquer territory from IS. — AFP

Tags Iraq-conflict-US

Japan to oblige companies to set CO2 reduction targets

World

Teenage pregnancy on the rise in Thailand amid increasing cases of sexual assault

World

Thailand bans imports of plastic waste from January 1

World

Malaysian teenage boys more vulnerable to social media risks than girls, study shows

World

This industry is defying China’s retail slump, thanks to young people’s ‘emotional’ spending

World

New tourism trends seen in Thailand

More on this story

World

Colombia’s Santos extends ceasefire with FARC to December 31

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said on Thursday a ceasefire with the country's FARC guerillas has been extended until December 31 but that he hopes to have "a new agreement" for peace before that date.

World

Portugal’s Guterres appointed as next UN chief

The UN General Assembly has appointed Antonio Guterres as the new secretary-general of the United Nations, in a shift towards a more high-profile leadership of the world body.

World

Black-clad Thais mourn king as nation holds Buddhist rites

Millions of Thais donned black on Friday as the grieving nation prepared to hold traditional Buddhist ceremonies for revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej, whose death leaves the country facing an uncertain new era.

World

UN chief to visit hurricane-hit Haiti as funding appeal falls short

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will travel to Haiti on Saturday to visit areas devastated by Hurricane Matthew as a UN funding appeal for the Caribbean nation drew few donors.

World

Truly the King of hearts

The longest-reigning monarch won the devotion of his subjects with his commitment to their welfare

World

Samsung sees further $3bn profit hit from Note 7 crisis

Samsung on Friday said the crisis over its exploding Note 7 smartphones would cost another US$3 billion-plus in lost profit over the next two quarters, but hoped expanded sales of its other flagship handset would help cushion the impact.

World

Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej passes away; nation plunges into mourning

Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest-reigning monarch died after 70 years on the throne, the Royal Household Bureau has announced.

World

Nations meet in Rwanda to tackle greenhouse gases

Envoys from nearly 200 nations meet in Kigali on Thursday to discuss ridding the world of HFCs, gases introduced to save the ozone layer only to unwittingly assail Earth's climate.

World

Sarkozy, Juppe set for French presidential primary showdown

France's ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy and former prime minister Alain Juppe will face off on Thursday in a televised debate ahead of a primary widely seen as the main battle for the presidency.